What is the process for filing a personal injury claim for an injured child in Jefferson, Bullitt, Hardin, Spencer, Shelby and Oldham counties? Who pays for your child’s medical bills and recovery when your child is injured in a car accident or a negligent act committed by another person?
There are few things I can imagine that can be more challenging for a parent than to endure the process of managing an injury to their child. Unfortunately, the US Department of Transportation recently reported a 17 percent increase in the number of children who were injured in traffic accidents in the US. More than 162,000 children suffer injuries in car accidents here in the US. In many cases, such a dog bite, car accident or pedestrian injury, your child may have been injured through the negligence of another person or driver.
My name is John Schmidt, and after more than 25 years as an attorney serving the families of Shepherdsville, Mount Washington, Shelbyville, Taylorsville, Radcliff, Elizabethtown, Jeffersontown and Louisville, Kentucky I can tell you the first and most important thing to do after any car accident or pedestrian injury is to make sure your child is thoroughly examined by a trauma physician within 24 to 48 hours of the accident, even if they don’t appear to be injured. Your child’s natural reaction is usually to try to reassure you and tell you they’re ok.
It is important to know there are many types of injuries in children (as well as adults) that can take days, weeks or even months before any symptoms are present. The failure to see a doctor within a few days of the accident can not only prolong the duration of any hidden injury, it can cause issues with or eliminate altogether the option of filing a personal injury claim for your child. The insurance company can and will claim “well, you didn’t even take the child to a doctor after the accident so they obviously weren’t injured in the collision. The child must’ve been injured playing or somewhere something else and now you’re just trying to take advantage of the accident to cover the medical expenses.” An otherwise valid personal injury claim for an injured child becomes a substantial challenge at best.
The insurance adjuster is going to seem VERY friendly and personable. It is important to remember it is not in their best interest and they are not compensated to take care of your family. They are highly trained and skilled interrogators and negotiated with one job, and one job only: to settle your child’s personal injury claim as quickly as they can for the lowest amount possible. Their one job is to focus on their employer’s profits, not your family’s best interests or well-being.
This is also why it is important to contact me or call to speak with me personally for a free consultation at 502-509-1490. I handle all the communications with the personal injury claim and associated legal process for you. My job is to protect your child’s interests and make sure your family receives fair and full compensation and the resources to cover every past, present and future medical bill or related expense associated with the injury or injuries your child has been forced to endure. The Law Offices of John Schmidt & Associates, PLLC will handle all of the legal, personal injury and insurance related issues so that you are able to focus on supporting your child and being fully present to support them through physical and emotional recovery.
Are you searching for information about a personal injury claim for a child in the Louisville area? You can trust your child’s best interests to an experienced, proven personal injury attorney from the Law Offices of John Schmidt & Associates. We invite you to contact us via e-mail, schedule an appointment or call us today at (502) 509-1490 for a free consultation to get the important advice and counsel required to protect your personal injury claim and achieve fair and full compensation on behalf of your child.
